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GELP, District Judge. A j ur y i n t he Di str i ct of Puer t o
Ri co convi ct ed Marcel i no Guzmn- Mont aez ( Guzmn) f or bei ng a
f el on i n possessi on of a f i rearm i n vi ol at i on of
18 U. S. C. 922( g) ( 1) ( count one) , and f or possessi on of a
f i r ear m i n a school zone i n vi ol at i on of 18 U. S. C. 922( q) ( 2) ( A)
& 924( a) ( 4) ( count t wo) . The Di st r i ct Cour t sent enced Guzmn t o
60 mont hs of i mpr i sonment as t o bot h counts.
On appeal Guzmn r ai ses t he f ol l owi ng cl ai ms of er r or .
Fi r st , he ar gues t hat t he di st r i ct cour t i mpr oper l y admi t t ed
evi dence t hat was bot h i r r el evant and unf ai r l y pr ej udi ci al .
Second, he posi t s t hat t he evi dence pr esent ed by t he government
dur i ng t r i al was i nsuf f i ci ent t o sust ai n hi s convi cti ons as t o bot h
count s. Fi nal l y, he cont ends t hat t he sent ence i mposed upon hi m
was pr ocedur al l y and subst ant i vel y unr easonabl e. We af f i r m t he
convi ct i on and sent ence as t o t he f el on i n possessi on count .
However , we reverse t he convi ct i on and sent ence as t o t he
possessi on of a f i r ear m i n a school zone count . We di scuss
Guzmn s cl ai ms ser i at i m.
I. Relevant Factual and Procedural Background
Dur i ng t he morni ng hour s of March 14, 2012, Sant i ago
Ni eves- Ri ver a ( Ni eves) , owner of a l echoner a1 r est aur ant i n
1 I n Puer t o Ri co l echn i s r oast ed por k, and l echoner as aregener al l y open ai r est abl i shment s wher e t he ent i r e ani mal i s cookedr ot i sser i e st yl e. Fr i t t er s and al cohol i c bever ages ar e al so sol d.
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Bayamn, Puert o Ri co, saw a bur gundy- col ored car dr i ve sl owl y by
hi s est abl i shment . J ust t hen, t he vehi cl e backed up and r et ur ned
t o hi s est abl i shment . Two men exi t ed t he vehi cl e. They appr oached
Ni eves t o order f r i t t ers. One of t hese men was Guzmn. Ni eves
f ound t he si t uat i on ver y suspi ci ous. Ner vous, af r ai d, and whi l e
f i r ml y hol di ng hi s machete, Ni eves asked both men t o l eave. At
t hat moment , he not i ced a si l ver gun t ucked on t he si de of t he
wai st of one of t he men as t hey were exi t i ng. The man carr yi ng t he
gun was l at er i dent i f i ed as t he ski nny one ( her ei naf t er t he
ot her suspect ) . As soon as t hey l ef t , Ni eves cal l ed t he pol i ce
and r epor t ed t he event s. He pr ovi ded a physi cal descr i pt i on of t he
suspect s and t hei r vehi cl e, a bur gundy Suzuki SX4 wi t h l i cence
pl at e number HPH 299. Ni eves di d not see Guzmn car r yi ng a gun.
The event was br oadcast over t he pol i ce r adi o as an
at t empt ed robber y. Pol i ce Of f i cer Car men Ni eves de J ess ( Ni eves
de J ess) , whi l e on pat r ol dut y, subsequent l y saw t wo men exi t i ng
a vehi cl e par ked i n f r ont of a Chur ch s Chi cken f ast f ood
r est aur ant at t he Rexvi l l e Shoppi ng Cent er i n Bayamn. The men and
vehi cl e mat ched t he descr i pt i on she hear d over t he r adi o. Qui ckl y,
she r epor t ed her i dent i f i cat i on of t he i ndi vi dual s vi a r adi o
br oadcast . Of f i cer Edi l ber t o Moj i ca- Cal der o ( Moj i ca) was
pat r ol l i ng t he ar ea t oget her wi t h of f i cer J os Ar r oyo- Pr ez
( Ar r oyo- Pr ez) . They hear d Ni eves de J ess s r adi o cal l and
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headed t owar ds t he ar ea. At t he t i me, bot h pol i ce of f i cer s wer e
wear i ng ci vi l i an cl ot hi ng.
As Moj i ca and Ar r oyo- Pr ez appr oached t he Chur ch s
Chi cken par ki ng l ot , t hey spot t ed t he bur gundy Suzuki vehi cl e.
Ar r oyo- Pr ez r emai ned near t he vehi cl e whi l e Moj i ca observed the
t wo men f r om out si de t he f ast f ood r est aur ant . Moj i ca wat ched as
Guzmn st ood i n l i ne t o or der f ood. Then, he not i ced a bl ack
pi st ol pr ot r udi ng f r om Guzmn s wai st band.
From t hat moment on, t he f ol l owi ng event s t ook pl ace
r api dl y. Out si de, mar ked pat r ol car s ar r i ved. I mmedi at el y, t he
ot her suspect approached Guzmn and whi sper ed somet hi ng i n hi s ear .
Wi t hout del ay, Guzmn l ef t t he l i ne and wal ked qui ckl y towards t he
bat hroom. He ent ered t he bat hroom f or a br i ef moment . As Guzmn
exi t ed t he bat hr oom, Moj i ca ent er ed the r est aur ant and det ai ned
bot h men. However , Guzmn was no l onger car r yi ng i n hi s wai st l i ne
t he obj ect Moj i ca had seen on hi mmoment s ear l i er . As t he suspects
wer e det ai ned, of f i cer s Ar r oyo- Pr ez and I smael D az- Ri ver a
( D az) ent er ed t he bat hr oom sear chi ng f or addi t i onal suspect s.
None wer e f ound.
Fol l owi ng t he ot her of f i cer s sear ch, Moj i ca t hen
sear ched t he bat hr oom and f ound a pi st ol i n t he di aper changi ng
st at i on. The pi st ol was i n pl ai n si ght , st uck bet ween t he pl ast i c
par t i t i ons of t he di aper changi ng st at i on. The f i r ear mwas a bl ack
Smi t h and Wesson pi st ol , model 4003 t act i cal , . 40 cal i ber . The
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pol i ce of f i cer s who sear ched t he bat hr oombef or e Moj i ca di d not see
t he weapon. I n t ur n, Guzmn and t he ot her suspect were pl aced
under arr est . Shor t l y t her eaf t er , t he pol i ce of f i cer s sear ched t he
bur gundy Suzuki vehi cl e. They sei zed a si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol f ound
i nsi de t he gl ove compar t ment . The weapon mat ched t he descr i pt i on
of t he gun Ni eves r epor t ed seei ng t he ot her suspect car r y at t he
l echonera.
On March 15, 2012, a compl ai nt was f i l ed agai nst Guzmn
char gi ng hi m wi t h bei ng a convi ct ed f el on i n possessi on of a
f i r ear m. Shor t l y t her eaf t er , a f eder al gr and j ur y r et ur ned a
t wo- count i ndi ct ment . Bot h count s charged Guzmn wi t h possess i ng
a Smi t h and Wesson pi st ol , Model 4003 t act i cal , ser i al number
VJ L7561, . 40 cal i ber . Count one charged Guzmn wi t h bei ng a f el on
i n possessi on of a f i r ear m i n vi ol at i on of 18 U. S. C. 922( g) ( 1) .
Count t wo, i n t ur n, char ged hi m wi t h possessi ng a f i r ear m i n a
school zone i n vi ol at i on of 18 U. S. C. 922( q) ( 2) ( A) & 924( a) ( 4) .
Guzmn exer ci sed hi s const i t ut i onal r i ght t o t r i al by j ur y.
Pr i or t o t r i al , Guzmn moved i n l i mi ne t o excl ude
Moj i ca s t est i mony r el at i ng t o t he si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol sei zed
f r omt he vehi cl e f ol l owi ng t he ar r est . The Di st r i ct Cour t r eser ved
i t s rul i ng.
Dur i ng t r i al , Moj i ca t est i f i ed about t he si l ver Ber et t a
pi st ol sei zed i n t he vehi cl e. Guzmn r enewed hi s obj ect i on
ar gui ng, once agai n, t hat t he Ber et t a pi st ol was i mmat er i al ,
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i r r el evant t o t he char ges, and had a pr ej udi ci al ef f ect because i t
was not t he weapon he was char ged wi t h possess i ng. The Di st r i ct
Cour t over r ul ed t he obj ect i on, per mi t t ed t he t est i mony, and gave
t he j ur y t he f ol l owi ng i nst r ucti on:
Al l r i ght . Ladi es and gent l emen of t he j ur y,t hi s weapon has nothi ng t o do wi t h t hi s case.I t was j ust par t of t he i nvent or y t hat wasmade by t he pol i ce and f ound by Agent Moj i ca.But t he - - Mr . Guzmn i s not on t r i al f orpossessi on of t hi s par t i cul ar weapon, t he onet hat was f ound i n t he car . Okay? Al l r i ght .
The cour t provi ded a second i nst r uct i on dur i ng Moj i ca' s t est i mony,
f ol l owi ng hi s descr i pt i on of t he si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol , and i t s
admi ssi on as an exhi bi t : 2
Ladi es and gent l emen, I want t o st r ess t o youagai n t hat t hi s i s a di f f er ent pi stol f r omt hat f ound i n the bathr oom. And that Mr .Guzmn i s not charged wi t h possessi on of t hi sBer et t a pi st ol . I s t hat under st ood? Okay. Goahead.
Guzmn moved f or a mi st r i al ar gui ng t he si l ver Ber et t aweapon f ound i n t he vehi cl e const i t ut ed i r r el evant , pr ej udi ci al and
i nf l ammatory evi dence. The government , i n t ur n, argued t hat t he
evi dence was necessary t o pr ovi de t he j ur y wi t h t he compl ete
f act ual scenar i o of what t r anspi r ed. The Di st r i ct Cour t deni ed
Guzmn s r equest .
2 A t hi r d i nst r uct i on r egar di ng t he Ber et t a pi st ol waspr ovi ded t o t he j ur or s t oget her wi t h t he r est of t he j ur yi nst r ucti ons bef or e del i ber at i on.
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Regardi ng t he second count , t o pr ove that t he event s t ook
pl ace wi t hi n a school zone, i n vi ol at i on of
18 U. S. C. 922( q) ( 2) ( A) & 924( a) ( 4) , t he pr osecut i on used
Moj i ca s t est i mony t o est abl i sh t he pr oxi mi t y bet ween Chur ch s
Chi cken and t he Col egi o Emmanuel Di sc pul os de Cr i st o ( t he
school ) , as wel l as Guzmn s knowl edge of bei ng wi t hi n the
r equi si t e di st ance. Accor di ng t o Moj i ca, t he school i s l ocat ed 300
f eet away f r om Chur ch s Chi cken and i s vi si bl e f r om i nsi de t he
est abl i shment . 3 The government al so submi t t ed as evi dence a
pi ct ur e of t he school s mai n gat e.
Af t er t he pr osecut i on r est ed, Guzmn f i l ed a mot i on f or
acqui t t al under Rul e 29 of t he Feder al Rul es of Cr i mi nal Pr ocedur e,
ar gui ng t hat t he pr osecut i on s evi dence was i nsuf f i ci ent t o sust ai n
hi s convi ct i ons. The Di st r i ct Cour t deni ed Guzmn s mot i on as t o
count one and reser ved i t s j udgment as t o count t wo.
The j ur y convi ct ed Guzmn on bot h count s. Af t er t he
ver di ct , Guzmn f i l ed a subsequent mot i on under Rul e 29 as t o count
t wo, si nce t he Di st r i ct Cour t had not yet r ul ed on hi s ear l i er
acqui t t al mot i on. The Cour t deni ed Guzmn s mot i on f or acqui t t al .
The pre sent ence r eport ( PSR) , prepared by t he Uni t ed
St at es Probat i on Of f i ce, r ecommended a combi ned base of f ense l evel
of 14, pur suant t o U. S. S. G. 2K2. 1( a) ( 6) , and a t wo- l evel ( 2)
3The par t i es had previ ousl y st i pul at ed t hat t he f ast f ood
r est aur ant was l ocat ed 140 f eet f r om t he school .
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enhancement f or s t o l en f i r ear ms, pur suant t o
U. S. S. G. 2K2. 1( b) ( 4) ( A) , yi el di ng a t ot al of f ense l evel of 16
wi t h Cr i mi nal Hi st or y Cat egor y I . The appl i cabl e sent enci ng r ange
f or t hese cal cul at i ons was 21 t o 27 mont hs, wi t h no st at ut or y
mi ni mum sent ence.
The government ar gued f or a sent ence of 72 mont hs. The
Di st r i ct Cour t i mposed a sent ence of 60 mont hs of i mpr i sonment .
The Cour t based i t s var i ance on Guzmn s cr i mi nal hi st or y and t he
nat ur e of t he of f ense.
II. Discussion
A. Admission of the Gun Evidence
To prove Guzmn was i n possessi on of t he f i r ear mchar ged
i n t he i ndi ct ment , t he government pr esent ed evi dence of both t he
bl ack Smi t h and Wesson pi st ol f ound i n t he bat hr oom at Chur ch s
Chi cken, and t he si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol r ecover ed f r om t he bur gundy
Suzuki vehi cl e. Guzmn ar gues t hat t he Ber et t a pi st ol was
i r r el evant and, t hus, t he Di st r i ct Cour t abused i t s di screti on by
admi t t i ng i t as evi dence. He asser t s t hat t he si l ver Ber et t a
pi st ol i s compl et el y unr el at ed t o t he el ement s of t he of f ense and
t hat t he er r oneous admi ssi on of such i r r el evant evi dence caused
unf ai r pr ej udi ce whi ch, i n t ur n, i nf l uenced t he j ur y s ver di ct. At
t r i al , Guzmn ar gued as f ol l ows:
The Gover nment i s now goi ng t o do pi ct uresr el at i ng t o t he sear ch of t he vehi cl e, of t hegun. I move f or a mi st r i al based on t hei nf l ammat or y nat ur e of t hi s, t he f act t hat i t
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has pr ej udi ci al ef f ect. As t he Cour t cor r ectl yst at ed, i t r eal l y has not hi ng t o do wi t h t hecase, he' s not char ged wi t h i t . And under 402and 403 i t ' s i mmat er i al , i r r el evant and haspr ej udi ced t he j ur y as t o the f act - - because,r emember , t here' s t he t est i mony of Papo Ni eves
sayi ng he saw a weapon on t he sl i m def endant ,whi ch we now know t o be Mi guel . So now t heycan make t he compar i son t hat t hat i s t he gunt hat was i n t he vehi cl e or t hat mi ght be t hegun that was i n t he bat hr oom. . . .
The government , i n t urn, ar gued bel ow t hat wi t hout
evi dence of t he si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol , t he j ur y woul d be depr i ved
of t he compl et e set of f act s and coul d become conf used:
Our posi t i on i s t hat i f we don' t do t hat ,maybe they are mi sl ed. Because t he f i r stwi t ness sai d t hat he saw a pi st ol on Mi guel .So now we ar e ent er i ng thi s evi dence as t herewas another f i r ear m. And al so admi t t hedescri pt i on of t he f i r ear m descri bed by t hef i r st wi t ness. So we ar e not mi sl eadi ng t hej ury i n t he sense - -
At t r i al , Guzmn t i mel y obj ected, on more t han one
occasi on, t o t he t est i mony r egar di ng t he Ber et t a pi st ol , and t he
i nt r oduct i on of t he weapon as an exhi bi t . The argument havi ng been
pr eser ved f or appeal , we r evi ew t he Di st r i ct Cour t s r ul i ng f or
abuse of di scr et i on. Uni t ed St at es v. Wi l l i ams, 717 F. 3d 35, 40
( 1st Ci r . 2013) . We pr oceed t o di scuss Guzmn s argument s
r egar di ng t he admi ssi on of evi dence accor di ngl y.
1. Rel evanceGuzmn ar gues t hat evi dence of t he si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol
sei zed i s i r r el evant . We di sagr ee. As he cor r ect l y poi nt s out ,
t he Ber et t a pi st ol i s not t he f i r ear m char ged i n t he i ndi ct ment .
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Al bei t t r ue, such f act i s not di sposi t i ve of t hi s evi dent i ar y
i ssue, and i t does not aut omat i cal l y ent ai l i t s i r r el evance. Thi s
second weapon was i mpor t ant t o the pr osecut i on s case t o t he ext ent
t hat i t cor r oborated t he f act t hat Guzmn and t he other suspect
each had a di f f erent weapon.
Rul e 401 of t he Feder al Rul es of Evi dence def i nes
r el evant evi dence as evi dence havi ng any t endency t o make t he
exi st ence of any f act t hat i s of consequence t o t he det er mi nat i on
of t he act i on mor e pr obabl e or l ess probabl e t han i t woul d be
wi t hout the evi dence. Fed. R. Evi d. 401. Evi dence may be
r el evant under Rul e 401' s def i ni t i on, even i f i t f ai l s to pr ove
or di spr ove t he f act at i ssue- whet her t aken al one or i n combi nat i on
wi t h al l ot her hel pf ul evi dence on t hat i ssue. Uni t ed St at es v.
Candel ar i o- Si l va, 162 F. 3d 689, 704 ( 1st Ci r . 1998) ( quot i ng Uni t ed
St at es v. Schnei der , 111 F. 3d 197, 202 ( 1st Ci r . 1997) ) .
Moj i ca nar r at ed t he event s t hat t ook pl ace at Chur ch s
Chi cken, st ar t i ng f r om hi s obser vat i ons whi l e he st ood out si de t he
r est aur ant , al l t he way up t o t he ar r est s of bot h i ndi vi dual s and
t he sei zi ng of bot h weapons. Hi s t est i mony cor r obor ated t he
government s t heory t hat Guzmn was i n possess i on of t he bl ack
Smi t h and Wesson pi st ol , whi l e the ot her suspect car r i ed t he si l ver
Ber et t a pi st ol , as i ni t i al l y obser ved by Ni eves at t he l echoner a.
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We t hus concl ude t hat i n t he case bef or e us t he Di st r i ct
Cour t di d not er r by admi t t i ng as r el evant evi dence t he exi st ence
of t he si l ver Ber et t a pi stol .
2. Feder al Rul e of Evi dence 403
Guzmn next cont ends t hat t he Di st r i ct Cour t abused i t s
di scr et i on under Rul e 403 of t he Feder al Rul es of Evi dence by
admi t t i ng evi dence of t he si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol , t hus creat i ng
unf ai r pr ej udi ce. Rul e 403 pr ovi des t hat [ t ] he cour t may excl ude
r el evant evi dence i f i t s pr obat i ve val ue i s subst ant i al l y
out wei ghed by a danger of . . . unf ai r pr ej udi ce. Fed. R. Evi d.
403. Guzmn posi t s t hat t he evi dence danger ousl y i nvi t ed t he j ur y
t o i nf er t hat he was i n possessi on of a weapon because he arr i ved
i n a vehi cl e where anot her gun was f ound.
Ti me and agai n t hi s cour t has af f or ded consi der abl e
def er ence t o a di st r i ct cour t s evi dent i ar y bal anci ng act . We
usual l y def er t o t he di st r i ct cour t s bal anci ng under Rul e 403 of
pr obat i ve val ue agai nst unf ai r pr ej udi ce. Uni t ed St at es v. Smi t h,
292 F. 3d 90, 99 ( 1st Ci r . 2002) . Onl y r ar el yand i n
ext r aor di nar i l y compel l i ng ci r cumst anceswi l l we, f r omt he vi st a of
a col d appel l at e r ecor d, r ever se a di st r i ct cour t ' s on- t he- spot
j udgment concer ni ng t he r el at i ve wei ghi ng of probat i ve val ue and
unf ai r ef f ect . Uni t ed St at es v. Cur r i er , 836 F. 2d 11, 18 ( 1st
Ci r . 1987) ( quot i ng Fr eeman v. Package Mach. Co. , 865 F. 2d 1331,
1340 ( 1st Ci r . 1988) ) . [ T] he l aw shi el ds a def endant agai nst
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unf ai r pr ej udi ce, not agai nst al l pr ej udi ce. Smi t h, 292 F. 3d at
99. [ A] l l evi dence i s meant t o be pr ej udi ci al ; i t i s onl y unf ai r
pr ej udi ce whi ch must be avoi ded. Uni t ed St ates v.
Rodr guezEst r ada, 877 F. 2d 153, 156 ( 1st Ci r . 1989) . Wi t hout a
doubt , evi dence pr esent ed by t he government i n a cr i mi nal case i s
al ways pr ej udi ci al t o t he def endant . I f i t wer e not , t he
pr osecut i on woul d not be i nt r oduci ng i t . . . . I n conduct i ng t hi s
bal anci ng t est , t he di st r i ct cour t has especi al l y wi de l at i t ude,
and Rul e 403 t i l t s t he bal ance i n f avor of admi ssi on.
Candel ar i aSi l va, 162 F. 3d at 705 ( ci t at i ons omi t t ed) ( i nt er nal
quotat i on marks omi t t ed) .
At t r i al , Guzmn chal l enged the i nf l ammat or y nat ur e of
t he si l ver Ber et t a pi st ol due to t he f act t hat nowadays, peopl e
don t l i ke guns. The Di st r i ct Cour t was not r equi r ed t o shi el d
Guzmn f r omt he soci al di sl i ke of weapons prompt ed by Puert o Ri co s
si gni f i cant l y hi gh cri mi nal i t y r at e. Thi s does not creat e a per se
aut omat i c unf ai r pr ej udi ci al ef f ect.
Mor eover , t he Di st r i ct Cour t was emphat i c t hat t he si l ver
Ber et t a pi st ol was not t he weapon Guzmn was charged wi t h i n t he
i ndi ct ment . We f i nd t hat t he i nst r uct i ons gi ven by t he Di st r i ct
Cour t wer e cl ear and suf f i ci ent , and adequat el y el i mi nat ed any
pot ent i al conf usi on or unf ai r l y pr ej udi ci al i nf er ences t he j ur y
coul d have been i ncl i ned t o make. See Uni t ed St at es v. Sepl veda,
15 F. 3d 1161, 1184 ( 1st Ci r . 1993) ( [ C] our t s have l ong r ecogni zed
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t hat , wi t hi n wi de mar gi ns, t he pot ent i al f or pr ej udi ce st emmi ng
f r om i mpr oper t est i mony. . . can be sat i sf actor i l y di spel l ed by
appr opr i at e cur at i ve i nst r uct i ons. ) . For t he f or egoi ng r easons,
we f i nd no evi dent i ar y er r or s wi t h r espect t o t he admi ssi on of t he
s i l ver Ber et t a pi stol .
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Guzmn al so ar gues he was ent i t l ed t o a j udgment of
acqui t t al on bot h count s. We r evi ew t he Di st r i ct Cour t s deni al of
a Rul e 29 mot i on de novo. Uni t ed St ates v. Pr ez- Mel ndez, 599
F. 3d 31, 40 ( 1st Ci r . 2010) .
When eval uat i ng t he suf f i ci ency of evi dence, we dr aw t he
f act s and al l r easonabl e i nf er ences t her ef r om i n t he l i ght most
agr eeabl e t o t he j ur y ver di ct . Wi l l i ams, 717 F. 3d at 38; see al so
Uni t ed St at es v. Wal ker , 665 F. 3d 212, 224 ( 1st Ci r . 2011) . Thi s
i s not an easy chal l enge f or an appel l ant . Def endant s chal l engi ng
convi ct i ons f or i nsuf f i ci ency of evi dence f ace an uphi l l bat t l e on
appeal . Uni t ed St at es v. Her nndez, 218 F. 3d 58, 64 ( 1st Ci r .
2000) .
1. Knowi ng possessi on of a f i rearm
To sust ai n a convi ct i on under 18 U. S. C. 922( g) ( 1) t he
government has t o pr ove beyond a reasonabl e doubt t hat t he
def endant : 1) was a convi ct ed f el on; and 2) knowi ngl y possessed a
f i r ear m; 3) i n ci r cumst ances t hat i mpl i cat ed i nt er st at e commer ce.
Wi l l i ams, 717 F. 3d at 38 ( ci t i ng Uni t ed St at es v. St aul a, 80 F. 3d
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596, 604 ( 1st Ci r . 1996) ) . Her e, t he par t i es st i pul at ed t hat ,
pur suant t o 18 U. S. C. 922( g) ( 1) , Guzmn was a convi ct ed f el on,
and t hat t he f i r ear m was t r anspor t ed t hr ough t he channel s of
i nt er st at e commer ce. Hence, t o sust ai n a convi ct i on, t hepr osecut i on s bur den was l i mi t ed to pr ovi ng the knowi ng
possessi on el ement . Guzmn argues t he pr osecut i on f ai l ed t o
pr ove thi s el ement beyond a r easonabl e doubt because Moj i ca s
t est i mony was i nsuf f i ci ent . We di sagr ee.
Knowi ng possess i on of a f i r ear m may be pr oven t hr ough
ei t her act ual or const r uct i ve possessi on. Uni t ed St at es v.
Li r anzo, 385 F. 3d 66, 69 ( 1st Ci r . 2004) . Act ual possessi on i s t he
st at e of i mmedi at e, hands- on physi cal possessi on. Uni t ed St at es v.
Zaval a- Mal donado, 23 F. 3d 4, 6 ( 1st Ci r . 1994) . Const r uct i ve
possessi on can be est abl i shed by pr ovi ng t hat t he person has t he
power and i nt ent i on of exer ci si ng domi ni on and cont r ol over t he
f i r ear m. Uni t ed St at es v. DeCol oger o, 530 F. 3d 36, 67 ( 1st Ci r .
2008) . Ei t her f or mof possessi on can be pr oven by way of di r ect or
ci r cumst ant i al evi dence. Uni t ed St at es v. Rodr guez, 457 F. 3d 109,
119 ( 1st Ci r . 2006) . We have al so hel d t hat a convi ct i on may be
ent i r el y suppor t ed by ci r cumst ant i al evi dence. Uni t ed St at es v.
Wi ght , 968 F. 2d 1393, 1398 ( 1st Ci r . 1992) .
I n Uni t ed St at es v. Robi nson, we f ound that evi dence of
a def endant s oppor t uni t y t o st ore guns i n an engi ne compar t ment
was suf f i ci ent t o est abl i sh const r uct i ve possessi on. 473 F. 3d 387,
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398- 99 ( 1st Ci r . 2007) . [ A] s l ong as a convi ct ed f el on knowi ngl y
has t he power and t he i nt ent i on at a gi ven t i me of exer ci si ng
domi ni on and cont r ol over a f i r ear m or over t he ar ea i n whi ch t he
weapon i s l ocat ed, di r ect l y or t hr ough ot her s, he i s i n possessi onof t he f i r ear m. Wi ght , 968 F. 2d at 1398.
I n t he case bef or e us, Moj i ca t est i f i ed he saw a weapon
on Guzmn s wai st bef or e he ent er ed t he bat hroom. When Guzmn
became awar e of t he pol i ce of f i cer s ar r i vi ng at t he scene, he
st epped out of t he l i ne and wal ked t owards t he bat hroom. Moment s
l at er , Moj i ca saw Guzmn exi t t he bat hr oom where t he weapon was
f ound. A r at i onal j ur y coul d have concl uded t hat Guzmn s act i ons
r ef l ect ed hi s abi l i t y and i nt ent i on t o exer ci se domi ni on and
cont r ol over t he f i r ear m. He was seen wi t h t he pi st ol bef or e
ent er i ng t he bat hr oom, and was wi t hout i t when he wal ked out . He
was al so t he l ast per son t o ent er and exi t t he bat hr oom bef or e t he
weapon was f ound. Moj i ca s obser vat i ons, t hus, pr ovi ded suf f i ci ent
evi dence t o pr ove Guzmn was i n const r uct i ve possessi on of t he
Smi t h and Wesson f i r ear m f ound i n t he bathr oom.
St andi ng al one, Moj i ca s t est i mony i s ci r cumst ant i al
evi dence suf f i ci ent t o demonst r ate Guzmn was i n const r uct i ve
possessi on of t he Smi t h and Wesson. I n addi t i on, t he pr osecut i on
i nt r oduced i nt o evi dence t he r est aur ant s sur vei l l ance vi deo whi ch
shows Guzmn wal ki ng i nt o t he bat hr oom and t hen exi t i ng, upon t he
ar r i val of t he ot her pol i ce of f i cer s t o t he r est aur ant .
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Guzmn mai nt ai ns t hat , because Moj i ca s t est i mony was, i n
hi s vi ew, cl ear l y i nconsi st ent wi t h t he t est i mony of t he ot her
pol i ce of f i cer s , i t i s i nsuf f i ci ent t o sustai n hi s convi ct i on. He
f ur t her argues t hat , because he deni ed havi ng possessed t hef i r ear m, addi t i onal obj ect i ve evi dence was needed t o cor r obor at e
t he conf l i ct i ng evi dence. Thi s ar gument i s unconvi nci ng. The mer e
exi st ence of conf l i ct i ng t est i mony does not r ender evi dence
i nsuf f i ci ent . Uni t ed St at es v. Cal der n, 77 F. 3d 6, 10 ( 1st Ci r .
1996) ( expl ai ni ng t hat i t f al l s wi t hi n t he j ur y s pr ovi nce whet her
i t chooses t o bel i eve a wi t ness s t est i mony over anot her ) .
Evi dence does not become l egal l y i nsuf f i ci ent mer el y because of
some i nconsi st enci es i n wi t nesses s t est i mony. Rodr guez, 457
F. 3d at 119. Conf l i ct i ng t heor i es ar e f or t he f actf i nder t o
deci de, not f or us t o ent er t ai n. Uni t ed St at es v. Lpez- Lpez, 282
F. 3d 1, 19 ( 1st Ci r . 2002) .
I n t hi s case, t he j ur y had t wo st or i es f r om whi ch t o
choose. The pr osecut i on t heor i zed t hat , as Guzmn st ood i n l i ne at
t he f ast f ood r est aur ant , he was al er t ed t hat pol i cemen ar r i ved.
That i s why he abandoned hi s pl ace i n l i ne, ent er ed t he bat hroom,
hi d t he weapon i n t he di aper changi ng st at i on, and, as he exi t ed
t he bat hroom, was det ai ned. On t he ot her hand, Guzmn deni ed
havi ng possessed any weapon or havi ng l ef t t he l i ne t o ent er t he
bat hr oom.
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When t he i ssue l i es on credi bi l i t y of t he evi dence, i t i s
up t o t he j ur y t o deci de. The f act f i nder i s f r ee t o conduct i t s
own i nt er pr et at i on of t he evi dence. Wi ght , 968 F. 2d at 1938. The
f act t hat t he j ur y opt ed t o gi ve mor e wei ght t o one ver si on of t hef act s over anot her i s not f or us t o r evi ew. Uni t ed St at es v.
Or t i z, 966 F. 2d 707, 711 ( 1st Ci r . 1992) ( On appeal , i t i s not t he
appel l at e cour t s f unct i on t o wei gh t he evi dence or make
credi bi l i t y j udgment s. Rat her , i t i s f or t he j ur y t o choose
bet ween var yi ng i nt er pr et at i ons of t he evi dence. ) ( ci t i ng Uni t ed
St at es v. Mar aj , 947 F. 2d 520, 523 ( 1st Ci r . 1991) ) . Her e, we must
det er mi ne whet her t he j ur y s ver di ct i s suppor t ed by a pl ausi bl e
r endi t i on of t he t ot al i t y of t he ci r cumst ance.
The cour t s dut y i s t o make sure t he evi dence i s
suf f i ci ent t o suppor t t he convi ct i on. We do not at omi ze our
anal ysi s. We consi der t he evi dence i n i t s t ot al i t y, not i n
i sol at i on, and the government need not negate ever y t heor y of
i nnocence. Uni t ed St at es v. Angul o- Her nndez, 565 F. 3d 2, 7 ( 1st
Ci r . 2009) .
The evi dence provi ded by t he government was suf f i ci ent .
Moj i ca s depi ct i on of t he f act s of f er ed a pl ausi bl e r endi t i on of
Guzmn s al l eged possessi on of t he f i r ear m. Sai d r endi t i on of t he
f act s convi nced t he j ur y. We t her ef or e r ej ect Guzmn s suf f i ci ency
of t he evi dence chal l enge t o count one.
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2. Possessi on of a f i r ear m wi t hi n a school - zone
Under 18 U. S. C. 922( q) ( 2) ( A) [ i ] t shal l be unl awf ul
f or any i ndi vi dual knowi ngl y t o possess a f i r ear mt hat has moved i n
or t hat ot her wi se af f ect s i nt er st at e or f or ei gn commer ce at a pl ace
t hat t he i ndi vi dual knows, or has r easonabl e cause t o bel i eve, i s
a school zone. A school zone i s an area wi t hi n a school or
wi t hi n a di st ance of 1, 000 f eet f r om t he gr ounds of a publ i c,
par ochi al or pri vat e school . 18 U. S. C. 921 ( a) ( 25) ; see Uni t ed
St ates v. Ni eves Cast ao, 480 F. 3d 597 ( 1st Ci r . 2007) . Guzmn
cont ends t hat t he pr osecut i on s evi dence was i nsuf f i ci ent t o pr ove
t he requi si t e el ement t hat he knew or r easonabl y shoul d have known
he was i n a school zone whi l e possessi ng a f i r ear m. We agr ee.
Col egi o Emmanuel de Di sci pul os de Cr i st o i s a school , as
def i ned by 18 U. S. C. 922( q) ( 2) ( A) , t hat t eaches pr e- ki nder gar den
t o si xt h gr ade. The school i s l ocat ed on Rout e 167, acr oss t he
st r eet f r omRexvi l l e Shoppi ng Cent er i n Bayamon, where t he Chur ch s
Chi cken i s l ocat ed. The par t i es st i pul at ed t he di st ance bet ween
Chur ch s Chi cken and t he school was l ess t han 1, 000 f eet . 4
At t r i al Moj i ca st at ed t hat t he school was vi si bl e f r om
wi t hi n the est abl i shment , but pr ovi ded no addi t i onal i nf or mat i on.
No ot her wi t ness t est i f i ed as t o t hi s mat t er . Moj i ca s ent i r e
t est i mony f ol l ows:
4 As di scussed ear l i er , t he exact di st ance st i pul at ed was140 f eet . However , at t r i al , Moj i ca i ndi cat ed t hat hi s measur ementof t he l ocat i on yi el ded a di st ance of l ess t han 300 f eet .
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MS. MONTANEZ: Q. Al l t hese event s t ook pl ace- - t hi s i n par t i cul ar of t he Chur ch and t hef i ndi ng of t he Smi t h & Wesson pi st ol - i nChur ch. What i s near by t hat r est aur ant ?A. I n t he f r ont si de of t he est abl i shmentt her e' s a bi l i ngual school f or chi l dr en,
pr i mar y l evel .Q. And how f ar i s t hat school f r om t heChur ch' s r est aur ant ?A. I ' d say l ess t han 300 f eet .Q. Okay. And how do you know t hat ?A. I measur ed i t .Q. Can you see t he school f r om t he Chur ch?A. Cor r ect , yes.Q. How do you measur e t he di st ance f r om t heChur ch' s Chi cken r est aur ant t o t he school ?A. Wi t h a scene measur i ng devi ce f r om t het r af f i c uni t i n Bayamn. From t he door - -. . .THE WI TNESS: Fr om t he door t owar ds t he mai ngat e of sai d school .BY MS. MONTANEZ:Q. And that scene measur i ng devi ce you t ook i tf r om wher e, you sai d?A. That was gi ven t o me by one of t he agent sof t he t r af f i c di vi si on i n Bayamn whi ch - -and i t ' s used f or i nvest i gat i on of deat hl yacci dent s.Q. From whi ch door you st ar t ed your
measur ement ?A. From t he mai n door of t he est abl i shment .That ' s t he one I went t hrough.Q. Unt i l ?A. Up to t he mai n gat e of Emmanuel school .That ' s t he name of i t .MS. MONTANEZ: I have no mor e quest i ons, YourHonor .THE COURT: I have - - l et me - - when you sayt he school mai n gat e, do you mean t he schoolhas a f ence?THE WI TNESS: Cor r ect , yes.
THE COURT: And t he gat e i s on t hat f ence, andyou measur ed t o t hat poi nt .THE WI TNESS: Up t o t he ent r ance gat e. Yes,s i r .THE COURT: Al l r i ght . Thank you.Cr oss- exami nat i on?
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MS. MONTANEZ: Your Honor , I have, bef ore t hedef ense goes, t he pi ct ur e of t he school .THE COURT: Wel l , you' r e goi ng t o have t o showi t t o - -MS. MONTANEZ: Yes. We can mar k t hi s asGover nment I D 14. ( NOTE: Document bei ng
pr ovi ded t o t he wi t ness. )Q. I ' m showi ng you what has been marked asGover nment I D No. 14. Do you r ecogni ze t hati dent i f i cat i on?A. Yes. Thi s i s school ar ea whi ch i s acrosst he - f r om t he shoppi ng cent er .Q. And why do you r ecogni ze t hati dent i f i cat i on?A. I go by i t ever y day.MS. MONTANEZ: Your Honor , we move i nt oevi dence Gover nment ' s I dent i f i cat i on No. 14.THE COURT: Any obj ect i on, Mr . - -MR. GONZALEZ: No obj ect i on, Your Honor .THE COURT: Wi t hout obj ect i on, admi t t ed asGovernment ' s Exhi bi t No. 14. Do you want t opubl i sh i t ? ( NOTE: Document r et r i eved f r omt hewi t ness. )BY MS. MONTANEZ:Q. I ' m showi ng you what has been marked asGover nment Exhi bi t number 14. What does t hi spi ct ur e show?A. That ' s Emmanuel school .Q. And i s t hat - - t hi s i s t he f ence you wer e
r ef er r i ng t o t hat you measur ed - - up unt i l t hepoi nt you measured f r om t he Chur ch Chi ckendoor ( i ndi cat i ng) ?A. Cor r ect . Yes.
Rel yi ng excl usi vel y on t he school s pr oxi mi t y, t he
pr osecut i on t ook no addi t i onal measur es t o pr ovi de gr ounds t o
evi nce t hat Guzmn knew, or r easonabl y shoul d have known, t hat he
was i n a school zone. I nst ead, i t r el i ed on t he cl oseness f act or
as per se pr obat i ve of Guzmn s awar eness. Moj i ca speci f i cal l y
t est i f i ed t hat t he school , and i t s mai n gat e, wer e vi si bl e f r om
Chur ch s Chi cken. The r ecor d, however , shows t hat he f ai l ed t o
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t est i f y t hat t he school s si gn was vi si bl e f r om Chur ch s Chi cken.
I n f act , t he school si gn was f i r st ment i oned af t er t he pr osecut i on
r est ed i t s case.
I n Uni t ed St ates v. Haywood, 363 F. 3d 200 ( 3r d Ci r .
2004) , t he Cour t of Appeal s f or t he Thi r d Ci r cui t r ever sed a
convi ct i on under 922( q) ( 2) ( A) on i nsuf f i ci ency gr ounds. As i n
t he case bef or e us, appel l ant si mi l ar l y ar gued t hat pr ovi di ng
evi dence of a school s di st ance was i nsuf f i ci ent t o est abl i sh hi s
knowl edge of a school zone. The cour t agr eed. [ T]he onl y
evi dence t hat t he gover nment pr oduced t o suppor t t hi s convi ct i on i s
t hat t he school i s, i n f act , wi t hi n 500 f eet of t he [ l ocal e wher e
Haywood was f ound ar med] . However , t hat i s not suf f i ci ent l y
concl usi ve t o enabl e a r easonabl e j ur or t o dr aw t he i nf er ence t hat
Haywood knew or shoul d have known of t hat proxi mi t y. Haywood, 363
F. 3d at 209. We f i nd sai d r ul i ng t o be squar el y on poi nt .
I t i s l i kel y t hat t he pr osecut i on coul d have shown t hat
Guzmn had t he knowl edge of t he near by school , but i t f ai l ed t o
i nt r oduce such evi dence at t r i al . J uxt aposi ng t he l ocat i on of t he
f ast f ood r est aur ant wi t h t he school i s not enough. Addi t i onal
f act s were necessary, and coul d have easi l y been pr oven by way of
t est i mony of pol i ce of f i cer s who wer e at t he scene, as wel l as
phot ogr aphs or a vi deo demonst r at i ng t hat any reasonabl e person at
t he Chur ch s Chi cken woul d have i ndeed become awar e of bei ng i n a
school zone. The pr osecut i on l i kewi se coul d have al so demonst r at ed
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t hat t o get t o t he est abl i shment Guzmn i nevi t abl y woul d have
dr i ven by t he school . More so, because Guzmn di d not l i ve i n t he
nei ghborhood, hi s awareness had t o be r eadi l y pr oven. Cf .
Ni eves-
Cast ao, 480 F. 3d at 604 ( Her e, t hr ee mi nor chi l dr en l i ved wi t h
t he def endant , and i t woul d be easy f or a j ur y t o concl ude t hat she
knew t her e wer e t wo school s near by, wi t hi n or j ust out si de her
housi ng pr oj ect and l ess t han 1000 f eet away, and t hat she
r egul ar l y passed by t hose school s. One school was, i n f act ,
l ocat ed next t o t he sout h ent r ance of t he housi ng pr oj ect . ) . I n
t he case bef ore us t he government asked the j ur y t o t ake a gi ant
l eap of f ai t h, whi ch f al l s consi der abl y shor t of suf f i ci ent l y
pr ovi ng i t s case.
The evi dence present ed by t he government was i nsuf f i ci ent
t o est abl i sh t hat Guzmn knew or r easonabl y shoul d have known he
was i n a school zone. Consequent l y, t he convi ct i on as t o count t wo
must be vacat ed.
III. Conclusion
For t he r easons expl ai ned above, weAFFIRM t he convi ct i on
on count one, REVERSE t he convi ct i on on count t wo, and REMAND f or
r esent enci ng pr oceedi ngs consi st ent wi t h t hi s opi ni on. 5
5
Guzmn ar gues t hat t he sent ence i mposed upon hi mwas bot hpr ocedur al l y and subst ant i vel y unr easonabl e. Havi ng r emanded t hecase f or r esent enci ng we need not addr ess t hese ar gument s at t hi st i me. Dur i ng hi s r esent ence Guzmn wi l l have an opport uni t y t oargue f or what he underst ands t o be an appr opr i at e sent ence. SeeUni t ed St at es v. Br yant , 643 F. 3d 28, 34 ( 1st Ci r . 2011) ( ci t i ngPepper v. Uni t ed St at es, ___ U. S. ___, 131 S. Ct 1229 ( 2011) ) .
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